Knitting machine



March 5, '1946.

' T. S. HAYHURST KNITTING MACHINE Filed April l5, r1944 l2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT R mas Hayurs f Avro T/lo BY @wm www Marcli A5, 1946. T. s. HAYHuRsT l 2,395,821

KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 12 SheetsSheet 2 EII Thomas .Hay/hard ATTORNEYS March 5, 1946. r. s`. HAYHURs-r KNLTTING MACHINE Filed April 15, '1944 l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ha7ans ATTORNESQ/ INVENTOR mas -S.

`March 5`, 1946. K T, s HAYHuRs-r 2,395,821

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Apri-l 13, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENToR Thomas Ha hwx" ATTORNEYS ZM/MM March 5, 1946. T. s'. HAYHuRsT KNITTING MACHINE Filed. April 13, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 5, 1946. T. s. HAYHURST 2,395,821

KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 12 sheds-sheet 7 INVENTOR T/zomas SJ harst- March 5, 1946. r` s. HAYHURST KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 l2 Sheets-Sheetl 8 llll lrlllnl' "I I/ lNvENToR T/mmas SH01 BY. 7 ATToRNE l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 T. s. HAYHURST KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 Thomas AS'. la QZ v EN @QN www m March'5, 1946. T. s. HAYHRsT KNITTING MACHINE Filed 1pm 1s, 1944 12 sheets-sheet 1o T11. 17.

March 5, 1946. 'T s HAYHURST y 2,395,821 44 KNITUNG MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 flurs l W( f m H. .fm MMM mm.

March 5, 1946. T. s. HAYHuRS-r KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 12 sheets-sheet -12 i i las l al.

INVENTOR Thomas S. Hayhmzs ATTOR 1 Patented Mar. 5, 1946 KNITTING MACHINE Thomas S. Hayhurst, Belle Harbor, N. Y., assignor to Max Nydegger, Summit, N. J.

Application April 13, 1944, Serial No. 530,768

14 claims.'

The present invention relates to an improvement in knitting machines. Objects of the said invention have been to provide improvements in needle jack conditioning mechanism to effect shaping or gusset forming in knitting machines; and to provide devices for progressively idling needles at edges of the work, either in single or multiple machines, and returning them to active knitting under various conditions to produce extra length at locations where required in the fabric.

One embodiment of my invention in a form adapted for use in connection with an automatic multiple flat links knitting machine is described in the following specification and shown in the v drawings appended hereto and in which- Figure 1 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of a right end Portion of a full automatic links-links knitting machine incorporating the improved needle conditioning `mechanism for gusset forming;

Figure 2, a plan view, enlarged, of portions of Figure 1 and with parts removed to disclose details of gusset or shoulder slant forming devices;

Figure 3, a fragmentary View partly in vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing a portion of the devices for effecting rapid return from gusset forming or shoulder slant narrowing;

Figure 4, a fragmentary View in vertical secltion on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 ,.`an enlarged view in front elevation and with parts broken away of the portion of the machine represented in Figure l;

Figure 6, an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure l;

Figure 7, a fragmentary view in vertical section on the line 1-1 o Figure 2 and showing a portion of the gusset or shoulder slant control mechanism;

Figure 8, an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 8-8 of Figure 1;-

Figure 9, a fragmentary View on the line 9--9 of Figure 8;

Figure l0, a fragmentary view showing the relative positions of certain parts while effecting narrowing, as in gusset forming;

Figure ll, Ia fragmentary view showing the relative positions of said parts during the first step of rapid return or widening in gusset form,-

ing;

Figure 12, an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal vertical section on the line I2-I2 of Figure 8;

Figure 13, an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal vertical section on the line I3-I3 of Figure 8;'

Figure 14, a fragmentary view on the line |4-I4 of Figure 1 showing the control link associated with the automatic widening and narrowing devices employed in gusset forming operations or the like;

Figure 15, an enlarged fragmentary view in transverse vertical section on the line |5-l5 of Figure 1; i

Figure 16, a view partly in longitudinal vertical section on the line lli-I6 of Figure 15 and with portions broken away and with some parts removed;

Figure 17, a horizontal section on enlarged scaleon the line Il--Il of Figure 15;

Figure 18, a horizontal section on venlarged scale on the line Ill-I8 of Figure 15;

Figure 19, a simplified section illustrating the relative positions of the parts shown in Figure l5, for example, when the locking bar is in intermediate or Achange position and the main' jacks are free to be moved upwardly, the selector bar being shown in raised position to engage and lift a profile bar;

Figure 19A, a fragmentary view of parts as shown in Figure 19 and with a lift plate raised to an intermediate main jack lifting position by the selector bar;

Figure 19B, .a view similar to Figure 19A with the lift plate raised to a higher main jack lifting position;

Figure 20, a simplified section illustrating the relative positions of the parts. shown in Figure 19 where the main jack is lifted but the interposed .l

jack has Ibeen displaced by the cross jack so that the push jack is conditioned for idling the corresponding needle jack and needle; and

Figure 21, an enlarged fragmentary view in plan of a portion of Figure 1 and with parts broken away to show portions' of widening and narrowing control devices employed in fashion- I ing and parts of which are employed in gusset forming or the like.

Gusset forming or shaping A variation in the control of fashioning devices of the type shown in the appended drawings in part supplements the jacquard and is conveniently employed to produce added fullness in certain portions of the work; and/or to create shaped end edges.

For producing said Afullness or shaping, the selected needles are idled alternately at the opposite edges of the work and retain their loops instead of being idled simultaneously at both lateral edges with decking as in fashioning, Said idling in any given course is effected at that edge of the work toward which the stitch cams are moved .'n forming that course. After this modified narrowing over the required number of courses, all needles thus idled are restored to knitting condition. The resulting fullness or gusset-like portion; when knitted into the proper part of the back of a sweater, for example, produces in effect a garment with a slanting shoulder section having shape or'fullness, thereby conforming more nearly to normal body contours at the nape and shoulder. other useful applications will be apparent -to those skilled in the art of knitting.`

For the purposes above stated, parts of devices provided for fashioning, as widening or narroww ing with decking, may be actuated and controlled by means operating independently of the actuating and controlling means provided for fashioning. Such fashioning parts, in the illustrated embodiment, include the narrowing cams 3| I and 3|3, the Widening cams 3|2`and 3|4 and their actuating rods 32| and 322, Figures 15 and 17; the actuating rods 350 and 35| for positioning the lift plates 345 and 346, Figures 15, 16, 18, 19, 19A and 19B, the shafts 360 and 36|, and the nuts 356 and 358 mounted on threaded portions thereof respectively, Figure 1. The fashioning shaft 369 is connected to drive said threaded shafts 360 and 36| through sprocket 368 on said shaft 369, chain 361 and sprocket 364 on screw vshaft 36|, Figure 21. A pinion 365 on shaft 36| drives a pinion 366 on shaft 360. Fashioning shaft 369 and the connected parts may be manually operated by turning handle 369a, or maybe mechanically actuated by ,devices shown in part in Figure 21 and more fully described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 530,766.

In fashioning with said parts, said actuating rods 32|, 322, 350 and 35| are advanced and retracted by endwise movement of nut 356 on shaft 360 and nut 358 on shaft 36| which occurs with rotation of said shafts. But in gusset forming, said parts are actuated by endwise movement of said nuts along with endwise movement o f said shafts 360 and 36|, slidably mounted `for that purpose, and the blocks 421 and426, respectively,

Figures 1, 8, 12 and 13, mounted thereon.

As seen in Figure 1, the smooth outer ends of shafts 360 and 36| are slidably supported by bearings in the end wall of housing 359 which forms a bracket 362. Thus, when said shafts are moved endwise in opposite directions for gusset forming, nuts356 and 358, secured thereon by collars 428, are moved with them and impart equivalent sliding movement to the rods 32|, 322 and the cams thereon, and rods 350 and 35| and the lifting plates carried thereby.

Idling of the needles for fashioning and gusset forming in the illustratedmachine is effected by operation of the idling cams 3|| and 3|3, Figure 17, which are movable to engage the butts 309 of substantially one half and the butts 3|0 of the other half of the needle condition controlling 'cross jacks in each knitting section of a multiple section machine.

Each needle` jack 28, Figure 15, may be selectively conditioned: (a) to effect idling of its corresponding needle; (b) to effect links-links operation thereof, or (c) to eifect straight knitting, depending on the operative position of its push jack |93. Said position is determined by a set of control Jacks. Figure 15, including a connecting jack 294 engaging said push jack |93, avmain jack 293, an interposed jack 295, and a cross jack 29|. When interposed jack 295 is positioned between main jack .293 and connecting jack 294, as shown in Figure 19, push jack. |93 can be conditioned, i. e. angularly adjusted, by suitable devices operating through main jack 293 to render its needle active. However, with interposed jack 295 withdrawn from between main jack 293 and connecting jack 294, Figure 20, push jack |93 will not be moved inwardly by push-in bar |95. Its needle will, therefore, be or remain idle, regardless of the operation of any other pattern controlling device having the effect of raising main jack 293 to an active position.

Idling or narrowing at one side of the work (left) is effected ln any course by moving the narrowing cam 31| to the right, Figure 17, by means of rod 32|. Said cam thereby bears successively against depending lugs 309 of one or more cross jacks 29|; and moves the latter outwardly (left'Figure 15), thus displacing corresponding interposed jacks 295. For `narrowing at the right side, Figure 17, rod 322 and narrowing cam 313 thereon are moved endwise to the left, thus moving outwardly the cross jacks 29| having the depending butts 3|0. When said respective rods are moved in the opposite directions, the restoring or widening cams 3| 2 and 3|4, operatively engage the depending lug 3|0 and 309 respectively, to push the corresponding cross jacks 29| inwardly and return interposed jacks 295 to normal operative position, as in Figure 15.

In fashioning, the narrowing and widening changes just described occur simultaneously at opposite sides or edges of the work and involve one or more needles at each side. In the illus- .trated machine, automatic narrowing by one or two needles at each edge and automatic widening by one needle at each edge in any course, are effected through suitable control devices shown in part in Figure 1. However, in forming gussets or the like, the number of needles idled at one edge of the Work in any course may be more Widely varied, as up to six needles, for example, in the illustrated machine; and all needles idled at one side in one or more previous courses may be returned to active condition in one course (rapid return).

Nan-owing or shaping without decking in gusset forming blocks.

" As seen in Figures 1 and 8, said blocks 426 and 421 are also mounted to slide on and are guided -byinterior surface portions of the housing 359.

In fashioning, these blocks are releasably locked in inoperative condition, as shown in Figure l, with a right end portion of block 421 overlapping a left end portion of block 426; and the smooth or unthreaded ends of shafts 360 and 36| rotate freely therein.

In gusset forming or shoulder slant narrowing, however, block 426, after release,is moved to the left, Figure i, in one course; and block 421, to-the right in another course, in predetermined increments depending on the Lumber of needlesv to be idled in each narrowed course. These movements transmit corresponding narrowing displacement to shafts 360 and 36| and outer block 421. The outer faces of the teeth of ratchet 429 are exposed obliquely to the left and those of ratchet 430 are exposed obliquel to the right, Figures 12 and 13. l Said blocks 426 and 421 also have sets of downwardly directed teeth forming an inner rack 43| and an outer rack 432, respectively. Each'blockl has a longitudinally extending smooth under surface portion interrupted by a notch or recess 433, Figure 8. When the blocks are in their normal inoperative or zero position, the tapered upper end of a locking detent 434 mounted in the housing 359 and biased upwardly by a spring 434b engages the V-notch 433 of inner block 416; and the tapered end of a similar detent 434a biased upwardly by a spring 434e engages the V-notch 433 of outer block 421.

At the lower end of the shank of each upwardly biased detent 434, 434a, is a laterally extending lug 435 which bears yieldingly against the bottom edge of a cam bar 433 slidably mounted in a transverse slot having an opening 439 through the outer side wall of the housing 359, Figure 8. Said bottom edge of cam bar 438 is interrupted by two end recesses having oblique portions forming the cam surfaces 436 and 431, respectively, and by an intermediate recess 436a ladjacent to cam'surface 436. f

An inner end portion of said cam bar 438 is connected by a link 459 with a lever 459 secured at an intermediate portion of a control shaft 460 which is rocked to and from diierent angular positions by any suitable means, as, in the illus` trated embodiment, by the operation of automatic control devices of which parts, including link 893, are shown in Figures 1 and 14.

As seen in Figures 8, 12 and 13, the housing 359 has a top opening 446 through a portion of its top wall above the ratchets 429 and` 439. A sliding reciprocatable head 44| carries a pair of plunger pawls 442 and 443, respectively, which are spring biased downwardly and extend through said opening 440. Pawl teeth provided at the lower ends of said pawls and which, in gusset forming operation, cooperate with the ratchets 429 and 430 respectively, are held normally in up or disengaged position above said ratchets by the head 444 of a spring pressed plunger 445 when the latter is held in up position. A tension spring 445a`biases said plunger 445 downwardly, Figures 8 and 12. But the bottom end of said plunger 445 normally bears on a portion of the top edge of cam bar 439 at one side (left) of notch 446 to hold plunger 445 in up position. Thus, the head 444 of said. plunger, normally engages the downwardly exposed shoulders 441 0f said spring biased plunger pawls 442 and 443 and holds said pawls in up position and out of engagement with their respective ratchets.

As seen mrlgure 12;- fhe head m which carries said pawls 442 and 443 is pivotally' connected to m one end of a link 443 at 449; and periodic reciprocating movement is imparted thereto by means including a lever 450, Figures 2 and 5, secured at an outer end portion of a transverse rock shaft- 45I, Figure 6. Lever 450 has a curved slot 452, Figure 5, adjacent to which may be placed indicia, as numeral markings, to indicate different effective lengths of said lever which correspond to 'different numbers of needles to be involved in al given shoulder slant or gusset narrowing opera tion for any course or courses. Accordingly, the outer end of link 449,15 releasably and adjustably secured to said lever 459 by suitable means, as a bolt 453, Figure 5, extending through said slot at one or another of said indicated positions. Suitable adjustment of said connection along slot 452 selectively determines the length of stroke of head u; and, therefore, of the plunger pawls 442 and Regular periodic reciprocating movement 'of head 44| is effected through said lever 450 from vthe cam shaft 9 which has the bevel gear I2 meshing with bevel gear I5 on transverse shaft I6, Figure 2. As seen in Figures 2 and 7; rock shaft 45| carries a lever 454 near its inner end. A cam roller 455 at the free end of said lever 454, is disposed in the paths of a crescent cam 456 and a lobe cam 451 on the rear surface of said bevel gear I5, Figures 5 and '1. When the free end of lever 454 is rocked to its down-position, dotted line Figure 5, head 44| is brought to its extreme left position. Continued turning of gear I5 brings lobe cam 451 into engagement with cam roller 455 thus rocking said free end of lever 454 into up position, whereby head^ 44| is brought to its extreme right position. Tlrie extent of this movement of head 44| will, of course, be determined by the relative position of engagement of link 448 along curved slot 452, as previously described.

To release said blocks 426 and 421 from locked engagement with locking detents 434 and 434a counterclockwise a predetermined extent'to its lrst or narrowing operative position. The oblique cam edges 436 and 431 at the under side of cam bar 438 thus come into engagement with said lugs 435 to withdraw the locking detents 434 and 43,4a fromnotches 433 in the under surfaces of blocks 426 and 421, Figure 10. At the same time, notch 446 in the upper surface of cam bar 439 comes opposite the bottom end of plunger 445 which slides down into said notch 446. This-releases head 444 of said plunger from engagement with shoulders 441 of the plunger pawls 442 and 443 which are now spring pressed downwardly into operative engagement with the ratchets 429 and 430 respectively.

The setting ofthe parts for narrowing, as above described, is timed to occur between successive strokes of pawl head 44| in opposite directions. On the next succeeding stroke thereof, one of said plunger pawls, as 443, operatively engages the ratchet 430 of the outer block 421 moving it to the right, Figure 1, while pawl 442 rides over edge of slot 452, Figure 5, are idled at one side of the work in the next knitting course.

The following or return stroke of pawl head 44| to the left produces a similar effect on a like number of needles at the opposite edge of the work in the next knitting course by bringing plunger pawl 442 into actuating engagement with ratchet 429. This moves block 426 to the left, Figure 1, while pawl 443 rides over ratchet 430 of block 421. The mode of operation here described may be repeated in successive courses until the desired number of needles have been idled at opposite ends of alternate courses, at which time a different setting or angular positioning of control shaft 460 is made to restore or return the idled needles to active condition.

Quick return from narrowing in shaping or gusset forming The rack 432 on the under side of outer block 421 continuously engages a gear 466 on a countershaft 482; and the rack 43| on inner block 426 engages a gear 463 on another countershaft 464. In the narrowing operation above described, each of said racks successively rotates its connected countershaft, one yin one direction, the other in the opposite direction, arrows Figure 5, to a cumulative extent corresponding to the total number of needles idled in one or more courses of narrowing at one side of the work.

These racks 432 and 43| and gears l46| and 463, along with other connected devices,'fare thereafter moved in reverse to rapidly return the blocks 421 and 426 to zero position and 'thus to restore the previously idled needles to active knitting condition by a rapid operation as compared to the widening procedure in fashioning. More specifically. for shaping orA gusset forming, in each knitting section,. all the cumulatively idled needles at one 'edge are returned to knitting condition in one course; and all the cumulatively idled needles at the other edge are returned in the next following course. The restoration of needles in any given course is effected at that edge of the work toward which the stitch cams are moved in forming that course.

As seen in Figures 2 and 8, countershaft 462 carries at its inner end a bevel pinion 465 which meshes with a bevel gear segment 466 mounted on a hub 461 loosely supported on the rapid return shaft 468. Hub 461 also carries a radially `extending pawl arm 469 at the free end of which is pivoted a spring biased pawl having a trip 410 at one end and a laterally extending detent 41| at its other end, Figures 2 and 8. A xed stop in the form of a bolt 412 is threaded in the machine frame with one end extending adjustably into the path of movement of said trip 410.

As indicated in Figure 2, a bevel pinion 413, a bevel gear segment 414, a hub 415, a pawl arm 416 having a trip 411 and a detent 418, and a bolt or stop 419 like those just described are provided for cooperation with said other countershaft 464.

Between said hubs 461 and 415, a collar 480 e is secured to shaft 468. One portion of its peripheral surface is of spiral contour interrupted to form the shoulder or movable stop 48|; and another portion (180) of its peripheral surface of similarly spiraled contour is interrupted to provide shoulder or movable stop 482, Figure 8, angularly spaced 180C' from shoulder 48|, both of which face counterclockwise. The detents 41| and 418 extend into the paths of rotation of said shoulders or stops 48| and 482 respectively.

As the bevel gear segments 466 and 414, loosely mounted on said return shaft 468, are rotated alternately, in narrowing successive courses, by the bevel pinions on countershafts 462-and 464, respectively, the pawl arms 469 and 416 secured on said segments are deected clockwise a corresponding angular extent, Figure 8. Thus, the pawl arm 469 is moved step by'step from a normal zero position, clockwise, toward the shoulder or.stop46| which, at this phase, is angularly positioned as shown in said Figure 8. With said clockwise movement of pawl arm 469, detent 41| thereon rocks counterclockwise into position to be engaged by shoulder 48|. The detent 418 is carried with rotation of arm 416 in the same angular direction toward shoulder or stop 482. Thus, the aggregate angular displacement of pawl arms 469 and 416, respectively, during such narrowing is a. measure of the extent of reverse movement eifected on the rapid return to restore the idled needles at the opposite edges of the work to active knitting condition.

In effecting said rapid return, shaft 466 is rotated mcounterclockwise, Figure 8, which actuates collar 488 thereon and thus rotates said shoulders 48| and 482 counterclockwise. Said rotation of shoulders 48| and 482 imparts return movement first to detent 41| and then to detent 418, to actuate and so reverse the endwise movement of blocks 426 and 421 in the same sequence.

Said quick return -is thus made in two steps, each of which widensone side or edge of the -work during said counterclockwise 360 rotation of return shaft 468. Thus, in the rst 180 of rotation of said shaft, shoulder or stop 48|, in moving 180 counterclockwise, engages detent 41| and thereby pushes pawl arm 469, bevel gear 466, gear 46| and block 421 back to their initial or zero positions before narrowing. When block 421' reaches zero position, it is again locked by engagement of outer plunger 434 with its V- notch 433.

To bring about the rst return step, the cam bar 438 is moved by the control devices to its most extended (left) position, Figure 11, where recess 436mll comes opposite the lug 435 on detent 434e which istherefore free to move up to locking position, although detent 434 is still held in down position by cam bar 438. And plunger 445 riding on the top edge of cam bar 488 and out of recess 446 is raised to lift the pawls 442 and 443 out` of engagement with the ratchets on blocks 426 and 421 which are thus free to return 5 to their respective initial or zero positions.

operation of the means described, the top end of detent 434e snaps into the V notch 433 thereof. At this point also, the trip 416, in rotating counterclockwise with shoulder 48| and return shaft 468, encounters the end of fixed stop 412, whereupon detent 41| is rocked upwardly and out of the path of movement of shoulder 48|; and return shaft 468 completes its first 180 rotation. The first widened course is now run by the knitting cams. n

In the second and final step of rapid return, which occurs in advance of the next knitting course, further or continued rotation of return shaft 468 to' the extent of 180 in the same direction as before brings shoulder 482 to bear against detent 418, thereby returning pawl arm 416 and connected parts including block 426 to their initial or zero positions before narrowing. When block 426 reaches its zero'position, it ls 5 again locked against endwise movement by en- On the returnof block 421 to zero position bygagement of detent 434 with the notch 433 in said block 428. y

To eifect said second and final return step, cam bal 438 is moved endwise to the right from the -position shown in Figure 11 and vthus back to its normal or initial position, Figure 8,by a clockwise turn of control shaft 480. This brings -the inner notch on the lower edge of said cam With said clockwise turn of control shaft 480,.

roller 481, Figure 3, on arm 488 is caused to disengage and free the tapered endof rocking lever 48|; but shaft 488 continues rotation. 'As shaft 488 continues to rotate into its second 180, the detent 418, Figure 2, is moved counterclockwise by shoulder 482, Figure 8, and is rocked upwardly and out of the path of movement of said shoulder when trip 411 encounters fixed stop 418 at the end ofsaid second 180 of rotation of shaft 488. l Shoulders 48| and 482 now occupy their initial relative angular positions, as shown in Figure 8.

Rotation of shaft 488 and of the collar 488 thereon, synchronized with the several endwise movements of cam bar 438, as above described, is controlled from control shaft 488 through a clutch having parts operatively interposed between said shaft 488 and ymain shaft 8. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, a gear 483 is loose on said main shaft 8 adjacent to the hub 484 of gear 1 secured to said main shaft 8 and having a laterally exposed notch 485. Gear 483 has a hub 488 provided with an annular groove 481. A spring biased plunger 488, Figure 4, is slidably mounted in a transverse recess 488 which, at one end, opens through the web of said gear 483 and at its other end intersects a portion of said an nular groove 481. One end of said plunger, when extending into notch 485, provides a latch by which said gear 483 is releasably vheld in driven engagement with the hub of gear 1. Rot-ation is thereby imparted to gear 488 secured on shaft 488 and controlled to effect a single complete rotation of return shaft 488 for ,two complete rotations of gear 483.

As seen more clearly in Figures 3 and 4, the position of clutch plunger 488 which is biased by spring 488a toward engagement with notch 485, is controlled by thespring biased rocking lever 49| pivoted at 482. The left end, Figure 3, of .said lever 48| is bevelled at 483 to engage a shoulder 484 of the plunger 488, when said left end of lever 48| is held by spring 485 in the declutching, or down position shown in Figures 3 and 4. Y

The right end of lever 48| is tapered to present an'oblique upper surface 488 in the path of cam roller 481 on lever 488 (dotted, lFigure 8) which is secured at the inner end of shaft 480, Figure 2. Rocking lever 49| also has a vertically `extending arm 488, an end portion of which is normally disposed in the path of rotation of a portion of cam 588 projecting from the hub 58| 70 of gear 488, Figure 3.

At times when rapid return widening is not in eect, the bevelled end 483 4of lever 48| lies in the annular groove 481 and holds plunger 488 in retracted ,non-clutching position, Figure 2.

To edect the shouldery slant narrowing preriously described, control shaft 46o is rotated'pr rocked an initial extent which also rocks end lever 488 thereon counterclockwise, Figure 3,.suf flciently to bring roller 481 into a position over the tapered end 488 of lever 48| but not far enough however, to press said end of lever 48| downwardly.

To effect return of the needles idled at one side of the work by the narrowing operations previously described, control shaft 480 and therefore lever 488 are flrst` rocked or rotated counterclockwise to a greater extent than for said shoulder slant narrowing. This greater rotation of shaft 488 carries roller 481 on lever 488 downwardly against the'tapered end 488 and so rocks lever 48| against tension of spring 485 to disengage its otheror bevelled end 483 from plunger 488 which then snaps into clutching engagement with notch 485 and so initiates the first 180 rotation loi? returnshaft 488 during which the first return step is effected.

To effect return of the remaining needles idled at the other side of the work, control shaft 480 is rotated or rocked clockwise back to its initial or normal position, Figures 3 and 8, and rotation of return shaft 488 continues as hereinafter describedl until it has completed 360.

Rotative or rocking movements of control shaft 488 toand from said different operative positions are effected by any suitable means, here shown as at one side of the work. At this point, those portions of the clutch devices connected with gear 1, including loose gear 483 and clutch plunger 488, have turned 368. Said plunger 488 would 4be disengaged from notch 485 by the bevelled end 483 of lever 48|, if the latter were here returned by spring 485 to the normal angular'position shown in Figure 3-which, unless prevented, would occur upon the above described clockwise rotation of control shaft 488. However, to insure the further continued 180 rotation of return shaft 488 for the final widening step, the crest of cam 588 which has turned 180 with return shaft 488, is now in position to bear against and hold vertical arm 488 and therefore lever 48| in tilted position, as when lever 48| is initially rocked clockwise by roller 481 on arm 488. This holds rocker lever 48| disengaged from annular groove 481 until continued 'rotation of gear 483 carries the Aplunger 488 past its clutch disengaging position.

As appears from the foregoing description and stated mode of operation, apparatus according to' my invention affords an eiective and relatively simple means forconditioning the needles in a knitting machine so as to produce products having fullness.' When applied to a full automatic machine, wherein provision is made for fashioning, said gusset forming or shaping devices utilize portions of the fashioning devices, thus attaining the additional production features with a minimum of special or additional parts.

A further advantage of my improved device, as described, is that it operates effectively with automatic control at high knitting speeds, i. e.'

ofthe order `-of 45-'55 courses perv minute on a multiple unit machine.

tion is in edect a division.

I claim:

l. In a straight independent; needle knitting' machine having devices 4adjustable in one direction to idle the needles and in the opposite direction to return needles to active condition, the

combination of a shaft mounted to rotate in opposite directions and for reciprocating endwise movement, means operatively connecting said shaft with said devices includingV a nut threaded thereon, means for rotating said shaft in opposite directions iso-effect movement of said nut thereon, and means for imparting endwise movement to said shaft to eect movement of said nut therewith.

2. In a straight independent needle knitting machine having devices adjustable in one direction to' idle the needles and in the opposite direction to return needles to active condition, the combination of a shaft mounted to rotate in opposite directions and for reciprocating endwise movement, ymeans operatively connecting said shaft with said devices including a nut threaded thereon, means for rotating said shaft in opposite directions to eiect movement of said nut thereon, means for imparting step by step endwise movement to said shaft in one direction to eiect corresponding movement of said nut, and means for imparting endwise movement in the opposite direction to effect corresponding movement of said nut.

3; In shaping or gusset forming mechanism for straight knitting machines having independent needle jacks and needles and devices for idling and for restoring them to active condition, the combination of an actuating member mounted for adjusting movement, means for moving said member step by step in one direction, other means for moving said member in the opposite direction, and needle jack conditioning means actuated by adjusting movements of said member and operatively connected to said actuating member and to said idling and said activating devices, whereby said needle jacks are conditioned for idling by said step by step movement of said member in one direction and are restored to active condition by said movement of said member in the opposite l direction.

4. In shaping or gusset forming mechanism for straight independent needle knitting machines in which means arev provided for-narrowing and widening by adjusting needle positioning push jacks one after another into and out of idle position, the combination of a cam carrier mounted for endwise adjusting movement, a widening cam and a narrowing cam mounted on said carrier, means operatively interposed between said cams and said jacks to transmit adjusting movement from said cams to said jacks, means for moving said carrier step by step in one direction to adjust said jacks to idle condition, and means for mov- .ing said carrier in the opposite direction to adjust said jacks to active condition.

5. In shaping or gusset forming mechanism for straight independent needle knitting machines in which means are provided for narrowing and widening by adjusting needle positioning push jacks one after another into and out of idle position, the combination of a pair of cam carriers mounted for endwise adjusting movement, a widening cam and a narrowing cam mounted on each of said carriers, means operatively interposed between said cams and said jacks to transmit adjusting movement from said cams to said Jacks, means for moving said carriers step by step in opposite directions to adiust said narrowing cams one toward the other, and means for moving said carriers in the opposite direction to aust said widening cams one away from the o er.-

6. In shaping or gusset forming mechanism for straight independent needle knitting machines in which means are provided for narrowing and widening by adjusting needle positioning push jacks one after another into and out of idle position, the combination of a pair of cam carriers mounted for endwise adjusting movement. a widening cam and a narrowing cam mounted on each of said carriers, means operatively interposed between said cams and said jacks to transmit adjusting movement from said cams to said jacks, means for moving said respective carriers step by step in successive courses to adjust said narrowing cams one toward the other, and means for moving said respective carriers in successive courses to adjust said widening cams one away from the other.

7. In shaping or gussetforming mechanism for straight independent needle knitting machines wherein a widening cam and a narrowing cam are mounted on a cam carrier which moves in one direction to actuate the widening cam and in the opposite direction to actuate the narrowing cam, the combination of a ratchet operatively connected to said cam carrier and movable therewith, a rack operatively connected to said cam carrier and movable therewith, a pawl biased to engage said ratchet, means for reciprocating said pawl and thereby to move said cam carrier and said rack step by step in one direction for narrowing, means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet, and means for moving said rack in direction 1to actuate the widening cam and in the opposite direction to actuatc the narrowing cam, the combination of a ratchet operatively connected to said cam carrier and movable therewith, a rack operatively connected to said cam carrier and movable therewith, a pawl biased to engage said ratchet, means for reciprocating said pawl .and thereby to move said cam carrier and said rack step by step in one direction for narrowing, means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet, a rotatable stop having a normally fixed angular position, an arm mounted concentrically with said rotatable stop andhaving a detent portion movable with said arm in the path of rotation of said stop, means operatively interposed between said rack and said arm to transmit movement to and from said detent and said rack, and means for rotating said stop from said normal position toward and into moving engagement with said detent to eiect widening movement of said rack.

9. In shaping or gusset forming mechanism for straight independent needle knitting machines wherein a widening cam and a narrowing cam are mounted on a cam carrier which moves in one direction to actuate the widening cam and in the opposite direction to actuate the narrowing cam, .the combination of a ratchet operatively connected to said cam carrier and movable thereatively with, a rack operatively connected to said cam carrier and movable therewith, a pawl biased to engage said ratchet, means for reciprocating said pawl and thereby to move said cam carrier and said rack step by step in one direction for narrowing, means for disengaging Vsaid pawl from said ratchet, a rotatable stop having a normally iixed angular position, an arm mounted concentrically with said rotatable stop, a detent pivotally mounted on said arm and having one end portion biased into the path of rotation of said stop, vmeans operatively interposed between said rack and said arm to transmit movement to and from said detent and said rack, a trip arranged at one end of the path of movement of said detent, and means for rotating said stop from said normalpcsition toward and into engagement with said detent to move another end portion of said detent into operative tripping engagement with said trip.

10, In shaping or gusset forming mechanism for straight independent needle knitting machines wherein a widening cam and a narrowing cam are mounted on a cam carrier which moves in one direction to actuate the widening cam and in theopposite direction to actuate the narrowing cam, the combination of a ratchet operatively connected to said cam carrier and movable therewith, 'a rack operatively connected to said cam carrier and movable therewith, a pawl biased to engage said ratchet, means for reciprocating said pawl and thereby to move said cam carrier and said rack step by step in one direction for narrowing, means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet, a rotatable stop having a normally xed angularposition, an arm mounted concentrically with said rotatable stop, a detent pivotally mounted on said arm and having one end portion biased into the path of rotation of said stop, means operinterposed between said rack and said arm to transmit movement to and from said detent and said rack, a trip arranged at one end of the path of movement of said detent, and means for rotating said stop from said normal position toward and .into engagementwith said detent to move another end portion of said detent into operative tripping engagement with said trip, a continuously rotating drive shaft, a clutch operatively interposed between said drive shaft and said means for rotating said stop, means for ac` tuating said clutch to effect operative connection between said drive shaft and said rotatable stop, and means operatively connected with said rotatable stop and with said clutch actuating means to disengage said clutch simultaneously with the tripping of said detent.

11. In shaping or 'gusset forming mechanism for straight independent needle knitting machines wherein a widening cam and a' narrowing cam are mounted on each of a pair of cam carriers one of which moves in one direction in one course and the other of which moves in the opposite -direction in the next course to actuate said cams,

the combination of means for effecting step by step movement of -said carriers in opposite di! rections in successive courses, a pair of rotatable stops angularly spaced apart, a pair of l rotatable arms each of which is operatively connected with one of said cam carriers and each of which has a detent portion movable therewith in the path of rotation of oneof said stops, means for transmitting movement between each of said carriers and one of said arms, and means for ro.. tating said stops in one direction to bring one thereof into engagement with one of said detents and then the other thereof into engagement with the other of said detents to effect widening movements of said carriers in two successive courses.

12. In shaping or gusset forming mechanism for straight knitting machines having independent needle jacks and needles and conditioning devices for idling and for restoring them to active condition, the combination of a cam actuating member mounted for adjusting movement, means for moving said member step by step in one direction, means other than said last mentioned means for moving said member in the opposite direction, and cam means actuated by adjusting movements of said member and operatively connected to said conditioning devices whereby said needle jacks are conditioned for idling by said step by step movement of said member in one direction and are restored to active condition by said movement, of said member in the opposite direction.

13. In shaping or gusset forming mechanism for straight knitting machines having independent needle jacks and needles and needle jack conditioning devices movable in one direction for narrowing and in the opposite direction for widening, the combination of cam means arranged and adapted to engage and actuatea portion of said needle jack'conditioningdevices, means for mov ing said cam means step by step in one direction to actuate said jack conditioning devices for narrowing and means other than said last mentioned means and arranged and adapted to move said cam means in the opposite direction to actuate said jack conditioning devices for widening.

14. In shaping or gusset forming mechanism for straight knitting machines having independent needle jacks and needles, and needle' jack conditioning devices movable in one direction for narrowing and in the opposite direction for widening, the combination of `cam means arranged and adapted to engage and actuate a portion of said THOMAS s. HAYHURST. 

